7.4. 1939. Yesterday the worst event happened. I just came back from my brother’s funeral. My brother was killed by a Vietnamese worker. I expected some conflicts would definitely occur as a result of the long disputes over wages. The relationship between my brother and workers has been worsening, especially in these days. The only one who was hated by most of our Vietnamese workers was my brother. I told him thousand times to be nicer to them since we cannot provide them with adequate wages. My brother never listened to me and my parents. He was just like the French government leaders. He thought the French people are superior to Indochinese people. Although I understand what made the Europeans result in such viewpoint (due to the successful industrialization and colonization), I do not think they are inferior to us. There could be a gap in standards of living and quality of life but I think everyone is equal and should be treated fairly. He did not treat them very well; he thought the Vietnamese workers deserved low wages. When I was talking to the workers, my brother suddenly came in and yelled at the workers. He used the word “vulgar” to describe them; obviously this outraged them. They have been holding their resentment for a long time. One worker brought a sharp sickle and brandished it, which exactly hit my brother’s neck. It was a moment I do not want to remember for the rest of my life. The worker was so astonished. He just wanted to scare him; The worker did not mean to actually kill him. I knew it and that was why I could not say anything to him. He chose to quit and I did not stop him. That’s it. It is sad that I lost my brother and this pain will last for long but I decided to forget about it for now.
7.4. 1939.
Yesterday the worst event happened. I just came back from my brother’s funeral. My brother was killed by a Vietnamese worker. I expected some conflicts would definitely occur as a result of the long disputes over wages. The relationship between my brother and workers has been worsening, especially in these days. The only one who was hated by most of our Vietnamese workers was my brother. I told him thousand times to be nicer to them since we cannot provide them with adequate wages. My brother never listened to me and my parents. He was just like the French government leaders. He thought the French people are superior to Indochinese people. Although I understand what made the Europeans result in such viewpoint (due to the successful industrialization and colonization), I do not think they are inferior to us. There could be a gap in standards of living and quality of life but I think everyone is equal and should be treated fairly. He did not treat them very well; he thought the Vietnamese workers deserved low wages. When I was talking to the workers, my brother suddenly came in and yelled at the workers. He used the word “vulgar” to describe them; obviously this outraged them. They have been holding their resentment for a long time. One worker brought a sharp sickle and brandished it, which exactly hit my brother’s neck. It was a moment I do not want to remember for the rest of my life. The worker was so astonished. He just wanted to scare him; The worker did not mean to actually kill him. I knew it and that was why I could not say anything to him. He chose to quit and I did not stop him. That’s it. It is sad that I lost my brother and this pain will last for long but I decided to forget about it for now.